John Fisher might not have the money to move the A’s to Vegas

There’s generally little hope for fans when it’s already been announced that their team will move to another city. That hope evaporates more when a league approves it, as MLB has done with the A’s move to Vegas. And yet, there’s always a sliver of light that can’t be extinguished when an owner is so balloon-handed, so clueless, that maybe, just maybe, they’ll screw up so badly that the whole thing might just fall apart.

John Fisher might be that giblet.

The A’s were supposed to hold a public unveiling of the renderings of their new Vegas stadium on Dec. 4. They postponed it, claiming they didn’t want to step on the aftermath of the death of two Nevada state troopers. It’s been a month now, and there’s been no announcement of a new public unveiling. Bit curious, one might think, given the timeline involved. Here’s one guess:

Here’s another.

There have been reports that the A’s have been showing the drawings to private parties, other casinos whose money the A’s are going to need to prop this whole thing up. Sure doesn’t sound like anyone has bitten, maybe because anyone who doesn’t have a brain dripping out of their ear and has thought beyond their own pockets realized moving a team to the smallest market in the league by far and also to the middle of the desert for a summer sport might not be a winning proposition. Who’s to say?

If there’s any owner that one would wager on to not actually come up with his share of the deal, something around $1.1 billion, it would be Fisher, who couldn’t manage a piss-up in a brewery. There’s still time for the Vegas legislature to fudge more numbers and proposals and bills, but again, if there’s anyone who can f this up, it’s Fisher.

Just don’t suggest that to one member of the governor’s crack team of vampire squids. Also, dickhead, the joke is about mom’s basement, not her couch. It’s always dad’s couch anyway.

Worst penalty call

Jumping around a bit. Want to see the worst penalty call in the history of hockey, non-Kerry Fraser division?

This was in the last two minutes of the World Juniors quarters, and thankfully Sweden didn’t score on the ensuing power play. This was also downgraded from the spearing major it was originally called, somehow, to a slashing minor, which is still heinously bad. Sweden did score on another power play in OT to advance, but they’ll be carrying this with them for anyone who wants to suspect the fix is in for the hosts.

Over in WJC

Now let’s watch some sad Canadians, because it’s hilarious as they’re the only people who take the WJC all that seriously:

My lungs just grew by 20 percent.

PWHL sets attendance record

Hopping over to women’s sports, the PWHL kicked off on Sunday in Toronto with a game between Toronto and New York at the old Maple Leaf Gardens, and then rolled on to Ottawa last night:

The formation of the PWHL certainly came with its issues, but it is wonderful to see it start in just a matter of months with such vigor.

Caitlin Clark isn’t very nice

No word on whether Jill Biden was frightened by the celebration or not.

Gotham FC loading up on USWNT talent

Finally, the NWSL is in its free agency period, and it seems as if reigning champ Gotham FC is acting like a New York team should. They’ve signed USWNT vets Tierna Davidson and Crystal Dunn, and Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett could be on the way soon.

It makes for interesting viewing, or will do, as NWSL much like its MLS counterpart has always been hyper-focused on “parity” with its own set of byzantine salary cap rules. It’ll be instructive how fans react to a team like Gotham, that is already carrying the trophy, suddenly becoming a big bad that everyone has got to chase down with names everyone knows. The hunch is that fans will probably like it, and viewership and ticket sales will go up when Gotham is involved, Because that’s what fans really want.

Follow Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @Felsgate.bsky.social